Biosample plate with data storage and wireless communication means

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a biosample plate that includes a memory component for storing information related to the biosample, biosample plate and biosample analysis data, and a wireless communication interface for transferring information to and from the biosample plate. The biosample plate may be used with an analyzing and data recording system such as an electromagnetic tape drive. The disclosed biosample plate facilitates the correlation between a large number of biosample plates and data as data remains with the corresponding biosamples both when the biosample plates are in use and when they are in storage. The wireless communication interface may comprise an antenna disposed in a biosample plate for data transmission to and from the biosample plate by radio signals.

The invention relates to analytical devices, and more particularly, to abiosample plate with a memory module for storing biosampleidentification and analysis data, and a wireless communication interfacefor transferring data to and from the biosample plate.

BACKGROUND

Samples of biological matters are commonly used for detecting thepresence of bacteria, viruses, cancer, and other substances of interest.The biological samples are typically placed on biosample plates to beanalyzed by a biological detection instrument. The biological detectioninstrument may record analysis results on a data storage medium such ascomputer memories, disk drives, magnetic tapes, and CDs. The biologicaldetection instrument may need some means to correlate a biosample withits analysis results.

For a large number of biosamples and biosample plates, the correlationbetween the biosamples, biosample plates, and data resulting fromvarious types of analysis can become a complex task. It is desirable toexploit the use of data storage and wireless communication technologiesto facilitate the correlation of biosample plates, biosamples, and theiranalysis data.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a biosample plate that includes a memorycomponent for storing biosample identification and analysis data, and awireless communication interface for transferring the data to and fromthe biosample plate. In one embodiment, the biosample plate comprises abase for receiving a biosample, a memory component coupled to the basefor storing identification and analysis information related to thebiosample, and a wireless communication interface coupled to the memorycomponent for transferring the information to and from the memorycomponent. The wireless communication interface may comprise parallelmetal-plated trenches disposed in the base to form an antenna for radiocommunication with a transceiver in an analytical system or a datastorage system.

In another embodiment, a method comprises analyzing a biosample attachedto a base, wherein the base includes a memory component for storinginformation from the analysis of the biosample, and transferringinformation to and from the memory component through a wirelesscommunication interface coupled to the memory component. The wirelesscommunication interface may comprise parallel metal-plated trenchesdisposed in the base to form an antenna for radio communication with atransceiver in an analytical system or a data storage system.

In still another embodiment, a computer program product comprises acomputer readable storage medium having computer readable program codeembodied therewith and comprising program code configured to analyze abiosample attached to a base, wherein the base comprises a memorycomponent. The program code is further configured to store informationfrom the biosample analysis in the memory component through a wirelesscommunication interface coupled to the memory component. The wirelesscommunication interface may comprise parallel metal-plated trenchesdisposed in the base to form an antenna for radio communication with atransceiver in an analytical system or a data storage system.

The details of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, both as toits structure and operation, are described below in the DetailedDescription section in reference to the accompanying drawings. The BriefSummary is intended to identify key features of the claimed subjectmatter, but it is not intended to be used to limit the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a biosample plate with a memory component and awireless communication interface for use with an analytical system or adata storage system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary biosample platewith a memory component and a wireless communication interface for usewith an analytical system or a data storage system, in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary biosample platewith a memory component and a wireless communication interface formedfrom trenches in the plate, for use with an analytical system or a datastorage system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary biosample platewith a memory component and a wireless communication interface thatincludes an antenna formed between parallel side walls on the plate, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the functional components of amemory component and a wireless communication interface for use with ananalytical system or a data storage system, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the functional components in adata storage tape library that may be used for analyzing a biosample andstoring biosample identification and analysis data, in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of the main functional components ina data storage tape drive that may be used for analyzing a biosample andstoring biosample identification and analysis data, in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of the functional components in acomputer, which may be part of a data storage tape library or acartridge memory to provide control and processing functions, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a biosample plate for holding asample of a matter to be analyzed, such as a biological sample in abio-detection process. The biosample plate includes a memory componentfor storing information related to the biosample plate and biosampleanalysis, and a wireless communication interface for transferringinformation to and from the biosample plate. The biosample plate, asdisclosed, allows the biosample plate identification information andanalysis data to conveniently remain with the respective biosample bothwhen the biosample plate is in use and when it is in storage. Thedisclosed biosample plate thus facilitates the correlation between alarge number of analyzed biosample plates and their analysis data andallows data related to the biosample plate to be stored with thebiosample plate and readily available to an analytical system or datastorage system when needed.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention further include a wirelesscommunication interface, such as a radio antenna, coupled to the datastorage element for wireless transfer of data between the biosampleplate and an analytical system or a data storage system. The wirelesscommunication interface enables high-speed writing and reading of dataon the biosample plate, for example, using a computer tape drive system.Further details on the wireless communication interface and memorycomponent are described below with reference to FIGS. 2-5.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there isillustrated an exemplary embodiment of a biosample plate 101 with a datastorage means and a wireless communication interface for use with ananalytical system or data storage system 102. The biosample plate 101may be fabricated of glass, Pyrex™, or ceramic material and capable ofreceiving a biosample 103 such as blood, bodily fluids, or otherbiological matters. The biosample plate 101 includes a memory component104 for storing plate identification and biological analysis datarelated to the biosample 103 and biosample plate 101. The memorycomponent 104 may be a nonvolatile memory such as anelectrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aphase-change memory, a flash memory, a NOR memory, or a NAND memory.

The biosample plate 101 may include a wireless communication interface105 that is in electrical communication with the memory component 104and capable of wireless transmission of data to and from a read/writecomponent or transceiver 106. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the read/writecomponent 106 as a separate component that is coupled to the analyticalsystem or data storage system 102, the read/write component 106 may bepart of the analytical system or data storage system 102.

In one embodiment, the analytical system 102 includes a digitalread-write component 106 for sending data to and receiving data from thememory component 104 of the biosample plate 101 via the wirelesscommunication interface 105. The transmitted data may include biosampleplate identification information and analysis data of the biosamples onthe biosample plate 101. Wireless communication between the digitalread-write component 106 and wireless communication interface 105 may bein the form of radio signals, optical signals, or electromagneticsignals. The analytical system 102 may comprise a processor 109 forprocessing input/output data.

The wireless communication interface 105 may comprise a radio antennafor communicating with the read/write component 106 by radio signals.Data transfer between wireless communication components, such as thewireless communication interface 105 and read/write component 106, usingradio signals is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,910 andthe MALT Reader Data Specification published by Philips Semiconductors,August 1998, which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

Alternatively, the wireless communication interface 105 may be anoptical interface for communicating with the transceiver 106 by opticalsignals, such as holographics and lasers. Data transfer usingholographics and lasers is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,702,164 and 7,724,631, which are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication interface 105 may bean electromagnetic interface for communicating with the read/writecomponent 106 by magnetic signals, for example, using magneto-resistiveread/write technology. Data transfer between the wireless communicationinterface 105 and transceiver 106 using magneto-resistive read/writetechnology is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,660,063, whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The analytical system 102 may be connected to or include a scanner 107for scanning the biosample 103 to detect the presence of certainmicro-organisms or substances in the biosample 103 using, for example, atarget organism or substance matching process. In one embodiment, thescanner 107 may comprise magneto-resistive read-sensors commonly used incomputer disk and tape drive systems. Examples of magneto-resistiveread-sensors include anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR), giantmagneto-resistive (GMR), and tunnel magneto-resistive (TMR)read-sensors. AMR read-sensors are taught without limitation by U.S.Pat. No. 5,005,096, entitled “Magnetoresistive Read Transducer HavingHard Magnetic Shunt Bias,” which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety. AMR read-sensors may comprise other structures havingsimilar functionality.

GMR read-sensors, which are also known as spin-valve read-sensors, aretaught without limitation by U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,590, entitled“Magnetoresistive Sensor Based On The Spin Valve Effect,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. GMR read-sensors maycomprise other structures having similar functionality. The GMRread-sensors typically have an internal antiparallel pinned layer forincreased sensitivity, as taught without limitation by U.S. Pat. No.5,465,185, entitled “Magnetoresistive Spin Valve Sensor With ImprovedPinned Ferromagnetic Layer And Magnetic Recording System Using TheSensor,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Another form of read-sensor, TMR, uses a tunnel barrier layer to augmentthe GMR internal structure and to provide increased sensitivity, astaught without limitation by U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,567, entitled “MagneticTunnel Junction Device With Nonferromagnetic Interface Layer ForImproved Magnetic Field Response,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. TMR read-sensors may comprise otherstructures having similar functionality.

In another embodiment, the scanner 107 may comprise magneto-resistive(MR) read-write heads for detecting micro-organisms and antigens thatare attached to metal nanoparticles. An MR read-write head may scan alarge number of biosamples deposited on a magnetic tape media as the MRread-write head traverses the tape media at a high speed. The tape driveelectronics may then process the signals from the read-write MR head todetect the presence of target micro-organisms or antigens in thebiosamples. Such a bio-assay process is described, for example, in thecommonly-assigned US patent application entitled “Detection Of AnalytesVia Nanoparticle-Labeled Substances With Electromagnetic Read-WriteHeads”, Ser. No. 12/888,388, herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

The scanner 107 may be controlled by a controller 108 of the analyticalsystem or data storage system 102. The controller 108 may read thesignals, i.e., data and results, from the scanner 107 and converts thesignals to digital for storage, for example, as data file 110. The datafile 110 may be stored in a data storage subsystem 111 that is connectedto the analytical system 102. The data files 110 may be in the form ofimage files or text files, e.g., TIFF, PDF files, and managed by thecontroller 108. In medical applications, the data files may be in theDICOM data format.

The controller 108 may further control the read/write component 106which is in wireless communication with the wireless communicationinterface 105 to transfer data between the biosample plate 101 and theanalytical system 102. In one embodiment, the controller 108 may be partof a control system in an electromagnetic tape drive that is used forscanning and analyzing the biosample 103.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary biosample platewith a data storage means and a wireless communication interface,according to an embodiment of the invention. Biosample plate 201 maycomprise a base 220 that is made of, for example, glass, Pyrex™, orceramic. The biosample plate 201 comprises a memory component 204 thatmay be a memory module attached to the base 201 or fabricated as part ofthe base 220. The memory component 204 may be an electrically-erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a phase-change memory, a flashmemory, a NOR memory, or a NAND memory.

The biosample plate 201 includes a wireless communication interface 205that is in electrical communication with the memory component 204through connector 202 to allow data to be sent to and received from thememory component 204. In one embodiment, the wireless communicationinterface 205 is an antenna to allow data to be sent to and receivedfrom the biosample plate 201 in the form of radio signals.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a biosample plate with a datastorage means and a wireless communication interface, wherein thewireless communication interface comprises an antenna formed in the baseof the biosample plate, according to an embodiment of the invention. Thebiosample plate 301 includes a base 330 which may be made of, forexample, glass, Pyrex™, or ceramic. The base 330 receives a biosample103 for analysis and includes a memory component 304 for storinginformation related to the biosample plate 301 and biosample 103, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2. The data stored in the memorycomponent 304 may include information to uniquely identify the biosampleplate and results from the analysis of the biosample 103. The base 330further comprises a wireless communication interface 305 to provide thewireless transfer of information between the biosample plate 301 and aremote read/write or transceiver component 106. The remote read/writecomponent 106 may be part of an analytical device or system 102, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless communication interface 305comprises one or more trenches 331 disposed in the base 330 wherein thebottom of trench 331 may be coated with a metallic material such ascopper, silver, gold, or platinum. This metallic material acts as anantenna of the wireless communication interface 305 and further providesa medium for attaching biological specimens. The trench 331 may have auniform width and depth to form side walls and end walls that have auniform height. In one embodiment, the untrenched portion of base 330may be coated with a diamond-like carbon material. The number oftrenches, their shape, size and depth may vary depending on theparticular design of the wireless communication interface 305. As anexample, the wireless communication interface 305 may be a U-shapeantenna that is disposed in trenches 331 in the base 330, as illustratedin FIG. 3. Trenches 331 may be used to contain biosamples captured byantibodies adhered to a metallic material, such as gold, at the bottomof trenches 331. Thus, the same metallic material serves two purposes,(a) it functions as the wireless communication interface 305 and (b) itanchors antibodies used to capture biological specimens such as cancer,viruses, bacteria, etc., for analysis. Wireless communication interface305 is connected to memory component 304 by connector 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an another exemplary embodimentof the wireless communication interface 105 in which the wirelesscommunication interface is formed between parallel walls disposed on thebase of a biosample plate. FIG. 4 illustrates three parallel side walls441 disposed on the base 440 to form trenches between two adjacent sidewalls 441. An antenna 405 may be disposed in the trenches formed betweenthe adjacent side walls 441 and acts as a wireless communicationinterface 405 for the biosamplate 401. The parallel side walls 441 mayhave uniform width and height. The antenna 405 is electrically connectedto a memory component 404 by connector 402 to allow information in thememory component 404 to be sent to and received from a read/write ortransceiver 106 by the antenna 405 through wireless transmission.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the functional components of anembodiment of a memory component 504 and a wireless communicationinterface 505. In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless communicationinterface 505 is a radio frequency (RF) wireless interface. An exampleof an RF wireless interface is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,201. Ahigh frequency inductive wireless interface may also be employed, whichis of sufficiently high frequency so that it does not adversely affectmagnetic storage media that may be present in the analytical system 102.Examples of high frequency inductive wireless interfaces are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,981, U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,836, and U.S. Pat. No.3,859,624.

An antenna 551 may receive the RF signal from the RF interface of theanalytical system 102, such as a data storage drive. A coupler 552supplies the received signal to a power conversion circuit 553 and to adata demodulator 554. The power conversion circuit 553 converts thereceived signal to a power current, supplying the current on line 556 toall devices on the biosample plate 501, including the memory component504, the data demodulator 554, and a data modulator 555. The receivedsignal from antenna 551 may be encoded. The data demodulator 554receives the incoming coded signal from coupler 552 and demodulates thesignal to provide data signals to the memory component 504. Data signalsfrom the memory component 504 are provided to the data modulator 555which encodes the signals for transmission by coupler 552 and antenna551 to the RF interface 106 of the analytical system 102.

The memory component 504 may comprise a memory processor 557, such aslogic or a microprocessor chip, for example, an Intel Pentium™ chiparranged to operate in a low power environment, such as a portablecomputer, and an associated nonvolatile memory 558 that is also arrangedto operate in a low power environment. The nonvolatile memory 558 may bean electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aphase-change memory, a flash memory, a NOR memory, or a NAND memory.

The memory processor 557 may have computer readable program codeembodied therein, including suitable security and encryption/decryptionalgorithms, and the logic for accessing and operating the memorycomponent 504. The memory component 504 may comprise a nonvolatilestorage, as is known to those of skill in the art. The nonvolatilestorage 558 may comprise a separate chip attached to the logic or memoryprocessor 557, or may comprise a portion of the same chip. The computerreadable program code may be stored in a nonvolatile internal memory ofthe processor 557 or in the nonvolatile memory 558, and loaded into theprocessor 557. Alternatively, the memory component 504 may be operatedby a control system or processor of the analytical system 102 or anassociated computer system.

FIG. 6 illustrates an automated data storage tape library 600 that maybe used for analyzing a biosample 103 and storing biosampleidentification and analysis data, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. Biosamples 103 may be deposited on tape media, read andwritten by an MR head in the tape library 600, and analyzed by the tapelibrary 600 in a bio-assay process.

The data storage tape library 600 is an automated tape library that maycomprise multiple tape drives 610 for reading and writing on tape media,such as single-reel or two-reel magnetic tape cartridges. Examples ofthe library 600 include IBM TS3400™ and TS3500™ Tape Libraries, IBMTotalStorage™ 3494 Tape Libraries, and IBM 3952™ Tape Frames Model C20,which store magnetic tape cartridges and use IBM TS1130™ tape drives.Other examples of the library 600 include IBM TS3310™ and TS3100/3200™tape libraries which store magnetic tape cartridges and use IBM LTO(Linear Tape Open) tape drives. Both the drives 610 and robotic picker622 in the library 600 can record/read data on a biosample plate 101,provided that read/write component 106 and wireless communicationinterface 105 are both proximal and parallel to one another.

A plurality of tape media cartridges 620 are stored in banks or groupsof storage slots 621. Tape media may encompass a variety of media, suchas that contained in magnetic tape cartridges, magnetic tape cassettes,and optical tape cartridges, in various formats. For universal referenceto any of these types of media, the terms “tape media” or “media” areused herein, and any of these types of containers are referred to as“tape cartridges” or “cartridges” herein. An access robot 623, includinga cartridge picker 622 and a bar code reader 624 mounted on the picker622, transports a selected cartridge 620 between a storage slot 621 anda drive 610.

The automated tape library 600 further has a library controller 625which includes at least one microprocessor. The library controller 625may serve to provide an inventory of the cartridges 620 and to controlthe library 600. Typically, the library controller 625 has suitablememory and data storage capability to control the operation of thelibrary 600. The library controller 625 controls the actions of theaccess robot 623, cartridge picker 622, and bar code reader 624. Thelibrary controller 625 is interconnected through an interface to one ormore host processors, which provides commands requesting access toparticular tape media or to media in particular storage slots. A host,either directly, or through the library controller, controls the actionsof the data storage drives 610. Commands for accessing data or locationson the tape media and information to be recorded on, or to be read from,selected tape media are transmitted between the drives 616 and the host.The library controller 625 is typically provided with a database forlocating the tape cartridges 620 in the appropriate storage slots 621and for maintaining the cartridge inventory.

Library 600 also includes an import/export mail slot 626, which is aportal allowing cartridges 620 to be entered into or removed fromlibrary 600. Since cartridges 620 have a generally identical exteriordimensions regardless of whether they hold data tape or biosampleplates, cartridges 620 may enter library 600 through import/export mailslot 626, picked up by picker 622 and transported to eithercartridge-storage slot 621 or drives 610. Drives 610 would have a commoncartridge loader mechanism, whether the drive is a data drive or abioanalysis drive, because of cartridges 620 having identical exteriordimensions. Similarly picker 622 may pick cartridge 620 from a drive 610or cartridge-storage slot 621 and place it in import/export mail slot626 for removal from library 600. In an alternate embodiment, biosamplecartridges 620 are a different color from cartridges containing digitaldata, as well as containing information regarding their intended purposein memories 732, FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of the main functional components ina data storage tape drive 700, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. The magnetic tape drive 700 comprises a memory interface 731for reading information from and writing information to one or more ofthe cartridge memory 732 of the magnetic tape cartridge 733, forexample, in a contactless manner.

A read/write system is provided for reading and writing information tothe data storage media, such as magnetic tape, and may comprise aread/write head 734 with a servo system for moving the head laterally ofthe magnetic tape 735. The servo system may comprise a read/write andservo control 736 and a drive motor system 737 which moves the magnetictape 735 between the cartridge reel 738 and the take up reel 739 andacross the read/write head 734. The read/write and servo control 736controls the operation of the drive motor system 737 to move themagnetic tape 735 across the read/write head 734 at a desired velocity.The read/write and servo control 736 may determine the location of theread/write head 734 with respect to the magnetic tape 735.

In one example, the read/write head 734 and read/write and servo control736 employ servo signals on the magnetic tape 735 to determine thelocation of the read/write head 734, and in another example, theread/write and servo control 736 employs at least one of the reels, suchas by means of a tachometer, to determine the location of the read/writehead 734 with respect to the magnetic tape 735. The read/write head 734and read/write and servo control 736 may comprise hardware elements andmay comprise any suitable form of logic, including a processor operatedby software, or microcode, or firmware, or may comprise hardware logic,or a combination.

A control system 740 communicates with the memory interface 731, andcommunicates with the read/write system, e.g., at read/write and servocontrol 736. The control system 740 may comprise any suitable form oflogic, including a processor operated by software, or microcode, orfirmware, or may comprise hardware logic, or a combination thereof. Thecontrol system 740 typically communicates with one or more host systems741, and operates the data storage drive 700 in accordance with commandsoriginating at a host. Alternatively, the data storage drive 700 mayform part of a subsystem, such as a library, and may also receive andrespond to commands from the subsystem.

As illustrated, the data storage drive 700 provides information to acartridge memory 732 of the magnetic tape cartridge 733, and providesdata to the magnetic tape 735 of the magnetic tape cartridge 733.

In one embodiment, the data storage tape drive 700 may function as ananalytical system 102 for scanning the biosample plates 101 andanalyzing biological samples 103 deposited on the biosample plates 101to detect the presence of target antigens or substances. Themagneto-resistive (MR) heads of the data storage drive 700 act as thescanners 107 for scanning the biosamples 103. For example, an MRread-write head may be used to detect micro-organisms and antigens thatare attached to magnetized nanoparticles.

An MR read-write head may scan a large number of biosamples 103deposited on a magnetic tape media as the MR read-write head traversesthe tape media a high speed. The tape drive electronics may then processthe signals from the read-write MR head to detect the presence of targetmicro-organisms or antigens in the biosamples 103.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a representative computer system,which may be incorporated in a data storage tape library and a cartridgememory to provide control and processing function, for providing aspectsof the disclosure. Computer system 800 includes a processor 801, amemory 802, a persistent storage 803, a communication interface 804, aninput/output unit 805, a display 806 and a system bus 807. Computerprograms are typically stored in persistent storage 803 until they areneeded for execution by an operating system running in memory 802. Atthat time, the programs are brought into the memory 802 so that they canbe directly accessed by the processor 801. The processor 801 selects apart of memory 802 to read and/or write by using an address that theprocessor 801 gives to memory 802 along with a request to read and/orwrite. Usually, the reading and interpretation of an encoded instructionat an address causes the processor 801 to fetch a subsequentinstruction, either at a subsequent address or some other address. Theprocessor 801, memory 802, persistent storage 803, communicationinterface 804, input/output unit 805, and display 806 interface witheach other through the system bus 807.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be embodied as a method, system or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take theform of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc. or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN), awide area network (WAN), Ethernet, SCSI, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, FibreChannel over Ethernet, and Infiniband, or the connection may be made toan external computer, for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider.

Aspects of the present disclosure are described above with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thedisclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures described aboveillustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods and computer program productsaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications andsubstitutions of the described components and operations can be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure defined in the following claims, the scope ofwhich is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompasssuch modifications and equivalent structures. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, the systems, methods, and procedures describedherein can be embodied in a programmable computer, computer executablesoftware, or digital circuitry. The software can be stored on computerreadable media. For example, computer readable media can include afloppy disk, RAM, ROM, hard disk, removable media, flash memory, a“memory stick”, optical media, magneto-optical media, CD-ROM, etc.

1. A biosample plate comprising: a base for receiving a biosample; amemory component coupled to the base for storing identification andanalysis information related to the biosample; and a wirelesscommunication interface coupled to the memory component for transferringthe information to and from the memory component.
 2. The biosample plateof claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface uses radiosignals for communication.
 3. The biosample plate of claim 2, whereinthe wireless communication interface is formed by a plurality ofmetal-plated trenches disposed in the base.
 4. The biosample plate ofclaim 3, further comprising a plurality of parallel side walls disposedon the base to form the metal-plated trenches.
 5. The biosample plate ofclaim 3, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting ofgold, silver, copper and platinum, and the biosample comprises antigensthat are attached to the metal-plated trenches through antibodies. 6.The biosample plate of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicationinterface uses optical lasers for communication.
 7. The biosample plateof claim 1, wherein the memory component comprises a nonvolatile memorydisposed on the base.
 8. The biosample plate of claim 7, wherein thenonvolatile memory is selected from the group consisting ofelectrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),phase-change memory, flash memory, NOR memory, and NAND memory.
 9. Thebiosample plate of claim 1, wherein the biosample plate is disposed onan electromagnetic tape media, the wireless communication interface usesmagnetism for communication, and the information is written to and readfrom the memory component by an electromagnetic tape head.
 10. Thebiosample plate of claim 1, wherein the analysis information is in theDICOM format.
 11. A method comprising: analyzing a biosample attached toa base, wherein the base comprises a memory component for storinginformation from the analysis of the biosample; and transferringinformation to and from the memory component through a wirelesscommunication interface coupled to the memory component.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the wireless communication interface uses radiosignals for communication.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein thewireless communication interface uses optical lasers for communication.14. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication interfaceis formed by a plurality of metal-plated trenches disposed in the base,and the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver,copper and platinum.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the metal isgold, the metal-plated trenches receive antigens for a biologicalanalysis, and the antigens are attached to the metal-plated trenchesthrough antibodies.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the memorycomponent comprises a nonvolatile memory disposed on the base.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the biosample plate is disposed on anelectromagnetic tape media and the information is written to and readfrom the memory component by an electromagnetic tape drive.
 18. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the analysis information is in the DICOMformat.
 19. A computer program product comprising a computer readablestorage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith,the computer readable program code comprising: program code configuredto analyze a biosample attached to a base, the base comprising a memorycomponent; and program code configured to store information from thebiosample analysis in the memory component through a wirelesscommunication interface coupled to the memory component.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 19, wherein the wireless communicationinterface is formed by a plurality of metal-plated trenches disposed inthe base, and the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold,silver, copper and platinum.